The National Gallery of Australia and National Portrait Gallery will open up their grounds to dogs on January 21 for Paws for Art, a dog day out to tie in with the Versailles: Treasures from the Palace exhibition.

Canines can channel their inner Louis XIV or Marie Antoinette with doggy wigs, crowns, capes and other props and sit on the golden throne in a photo booth decked out like the French palace itself.

Animals are a common theme in the paintings and sculptures of the exhibition, a nod to their popularity during the reign of the French royal family.

"There's a hierarchy of art history, and usually genre painting would sit at the top and animal painting way down at the bottom, but because of how much the kings loved their animals and wanted to have portraits of them made, it made its way up the triangle quite considerably," said assistant curator Simeran Maxwell.

"In France at this time, art was really dictated by the French royal family so what was popular with them was then popular amongst the masses.So if the French royal family liked their dogs, then dog paintings were in."

While many dogs were kept as war dogs and for hunting, some were considered closer members of the family - Louis XIV, XV and XVI all even had their own dedicated animal artists.

"Dogs were definitely invited to dinner - a lot of the queens used to have their favourite dogs with them at dinner, they would sit on the table and would have be fed," said Maxwell.

"Louis XIV had a room built next to his bedroom which was for his special dogs. And then he also hired some of the best furniture makers and artists of the day to design dog beds for his special dogs, so they were at all his palaces, not just Versailles. They slept in style."

While dogs can't actually visit the exhibition themselves on Saturday, there are plenty of dog-friendly activities planned for outside.

From 9am, there's the photo booth, dog art, French-themed food - for humans and canines - plus live music, curator talks, best dressed dog competitions and activities for kids in the sculpture garden at the National Gallery.

Then from 11am, the activities move next door to the Portrait Gallery where there will be animal portrait drawing, live music, pet-friendly stalls, young AFP canines to pat, and activities for the kids.

Keeping with the animal theme, the Popular Pet Show is also on, with pet minders available to look after pooches while their human companions visit the exhibition.

Paws for Art is on Saturday January 21, at the National Gallery of Australia 9am-11am, and the National Portrait Galley 11am-3pm.